Labour Minister Champions Women’s Employment as WIAN Signs MoU to Drive Decent Jobs and Economic Inclusion
The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding decent employment opportunities for women and young people, describing strategic partnerships as essential to building an inclusive and productive labour market.
Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Women in Action Network (WIAN), the Minister said the agreement represents a significant milestone in advancing formal employment, strengthening local economies and creating sustainable livelihoods, particularly in Northern Ghana.
“The objectives are very important, and today we are celebrating this signing because it is the fruit of our collective efforts,” Dr. Pelpuo said.
He explained that the MoU establishes a framework for collaboration to expand formal wage employment and development opportunities while strengthening the capacity of local economies to absorb labour on a larger scale.
According to the Minister, the partnership will promote the transition of workers from the informal economy into formal employment systems, support the creation of continuous year-round jobs across value chains, and advance decent work standards through fair wages, safe working conditions and improved job security.
He added that the initiative would also enhance the participation of women and young people in productive employment while aligning with Ghana’s national labour, employment and industrial policies.
The Executive Director of WIAN, Dr. Azeb Tadesse, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to the partnership, noting that WIAN has dedicated the past five years to laying the foundation for the initiative.
She described the MoU as the beginning of a new phase that shifts the focus from planning to implementation through stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
Dr. Tadesse said particular attention would be given to supporting women in the informal economy while gathering feedback on the quality of jobs created to inform policy decisions and expand employment opportunities.
She expressed confidence that the partnership would deliver meaningful results by creating sustainable jobs, promoting inclusive economic growth and improving livelihoods for women across the country.
The MoU marks a major step in strengthening collaboration among government, civil society and development partners to expand decent work opportunities, promote women’s economic empowerment and support Ghana’s broader employment and industrial transformation agenda.
